Hindu statesman brands Brahma beer “hurtful”

A Hindu statesman has urged AB InBev to change the name of its popular “Brahma” beer calling it “highly inappropriate” as it shares its name with a Hindu deity.

According to a report in the Punjab News Express, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, said the use of the name “Brahma” was an inappropriate use of a Hindu deity and would hurt the religion’s devotees.

In Hinduism the creator god Lord Brahma, along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, forms the great triad of Hindu deities.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that linking Lord Brahma with an alcoholic beverage was “very disrespectful”.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion devotees.

Zed said linking Lord Brahma to the beer brand’s “raunchy commercials”, which in the past have featured Megan Fox and Jennifer Lopez, did not sit well with devotees.

Brahma is a Brazilian beer, originally made by the Companhia Cervejaria Brahma which was founded in 1888, and is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Anheuser-Bush InBev produces 400 million hectolitres of more than 200 beer brands with “Brahma” currently the ninth top beer brand worldwide and the sixth biggest in the company after Bud LIght, Budweiser, Corona, Skol and Stella Artois.